Loose-leaf-binding mechanism



March 26, 1929. R. F. POWER LOOSE LEAF BINDING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 29, 1926 Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD FITZ POWER, OF HAMPSTEAD, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MOBLAND & IMPEY LIMITED, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

LOOSE-LEAF-BINDIN G MECHANISM.

Original application filed January 29, 1926, Serial No. 84,598, and in Great Britain May 25, 1925. Divided and this application filed May 10, 1927.

This invention relates to improved loose leaves and to securing or binding mechanism therefor, more particularly of file form, and my improved construction provides, firstly, leaves of such form that they can be cut from a long sheet without waste, secondly, for the ready removal of a leaf or leaves from the securing or bindin mechanism, and, thirdly, a hinder, the anchoring members whereof move automatically to locking position when free.

This application is a division of my concurrent application Serial Number 8 1,598, filed January 29th, 1926 in which is shown a construction of binder employing similar methods but adapted to book or ledger form.

My invention has reference to binders employing leaves with undercut notches. Heretofore it has been a known practice to employ therewith telescopic projecting posts. carried by clamping plates of the binder, and means by which they can be manually projected into the notches. The disadvantage of the type of loose leaf binder referred to is that a material addition to the space needed beyond the area of a single leaf has been necessary to accommodate the binding mechanism, and it has further been possible to leave the binding mechanism open when a person handling the binder is careless so that the leaves may drop out of the binder and necessitate laborious re-assortment and loss of time. My present improvements obviate these disadvantages by providing that the mechanism for locking the sheets is automatic in the locking direction when free, and is substantially contained within the superficial area of a leaf or mass of leaves when lying with their edges coincident. By this means the binder is never in condition to allow leaves to come out, except when it is purposely operated by a bookkeepor or clerk, and considerable space is saved.

It should be noted that binders are known in which the leaves whereof have what may be called notches of undercut form. There is, however, a material difference between such leaves and leaves according to my invention, in that the cut-out spaces of the latter are long recesses occupying generally at least half of one end of a leaf or sheet, whereby the necessary space may be obtained within such recess for the manipulation of the lock- Serial No. 190,324.

ing means without any material excrescences beyond the area of a leaf or mass of the leaves when piled coincidently.

The method described in the present appllcation provides for the manual operation of the securing mechanism, my concurrent application, Serial Number 84,599, showing a support device which may be adapted to operate mechanically the loose leaf securing mechanism or binder to release or to re-secure the leaves.

In the drawings annexed to this specification:

- Fig. 1 is an outline of a leaf arranged with the central recess at one edge;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a leaf having a recessed edge formed by cuttin away the corners of the leaf; b

Fig. 3 is an end View looking from the anchoring end showing a bunch of leaves of the first kind and a filing structure according to my invention; i

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line IV -IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a stiff sheet or cover board provlded with rubber grips in the un dercut ends terminating each recess; and

F1g. 6 1s a section on the line VIVI of Flg.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is a leaf or sheet formed in accordance with this invention with the recess 3 in one edge thereof, the terminations of the recess 3 being formed by the transverse undercut portions 4, 5 of the corner extensions 6 and 7 respectively.

In the leaf shown in Fig. 2, the recesses are formed by cutting away corner portions 12, 13, of the sheet, each recess being terminated at its innermost end by transverse undercuts 10' aud11 respectively and leaving a central portion 8 and 9 projecting from the edge of the sheet. if

Preferably leaves as above will be formed with dimensions a, Z), c, d, all equal, so that when cutting leaves from a long strip or a strip equal to a width of double the length of the leaf as illustrated in Fig. 1, leaves may be cut therefrom without any waste by (lividing the strip with transverse lines from either side of said strip. Alternatively, the said lines may finish in the middle of the recess I which will be formed in an opposite leaf; by

thus cutting the strip, all the leaves will have the central recess'as showninFig. 1. Should sheets asshownin Fig; 2be desired, trans verse cuts will be made starting from the opposite side of the sheet just mentioned, and finishing on the middle of' the projections I represented by b, 0, of Fig; 2; In any event, if the sheets are to be cutwithout waste, the

sum of the dimensions a and d must always equalthe sum of thedimensions b and 0.

If desired, a leaf 11may have a corner 27 remote" from the recessed edge cut away as shownin dotted-lines inFigs. land 2, in. order to simplify reference to sheets in a;pile.

Referring now to Figsr3rand 4;, a mass of leaves, such as -1. are here shown secured by anchoring'bars 16,17, occupying the undercut recesses 4:, 5,.insame.. Thesaid bars 16,

17, are attachediby. eyelet bushes 18, 19, pro- Vided at their lower extremity, to a spindle secured by means-of brackets 21,-22, to-a base boardr23, said brackets 21, 22,.also-functioning as abutments which limitthe movement-ofthe anchoring bars 16, 17,if and when the file be emptied, The anchoring; bars 16,17, are normally retained in theundercut ends4, 5,-of there- 'cesses .3 by a spring 26, -which-in the construction shown surrounds the spindle 20 and abuts against the eyelet bushes 18', 19, situated at its respective ends, and thus retains the latter in engagement withtheir respective ter- "minations. of the recess 3.

' Finger plates or lugs 24 25,-maybe provided extending laterally from the eyelet bushes 18, 19, wherewith to operate thean- H choring bars. When it is desired to release a leaf or leaves from the mass, the anchoring bars 16,17 are withdrawn intothe recess against theresistance of the spring 26 by pressing the finger plates 24, 25, towards each other}. One orall of the leaves may then befwitlidrawn or more leaves added, and on release of the finger plates 24, the anchoring bars 16, 17, again take up their position in the undercut terminations 4, 5, of the mass of leaves, and thus firmlysecure them.

A stiff sheet or cover board'28, is preferably providedvto hold the leaves down so as to overcome any tendency for them to become displaced vertically.

' At the upper ends off the anchoring bars 16, 17 are shown enlarged stud'portions 14,

15, respectively. which complement the effect of the cover board 28 when the file is overhandle, any desired leaf being turned up immediately, owing to the fact that the whole mass of sheets may pivot on the spindle 20,

and it is thus rendered possible to refer to the file without removing it from its cabinet,

supposin the anchoring end is outermost.

lVhatclaim is 1. Apparatus for securing loose leaves of the kind having on one edge open recesses with undercut ends, having in combination a pair of relatively movable anchoring bars and resilient pressure means associated with said bars adapted when tensioncd to permit disposal of the bars within the area of the recess, and when released to automatically lodge'the bars within. the undercut ends.

Apparatusfor securing loose leaves of the. kind having on one edge open recesses with undercut ends, having in combination anchoring members disposable within the area of said recesses when a mass of leaves are coincidently assembled andadapted to occupy the said undercut ends, resilient pressure means lodging said members in saidundercut: ends and permitting. movement of said members relative to the recess to'cfl'ect release of the leaves.

3. Apparatus for securing loose leaves of the kind. havingon one edge open recesses with undercut ends, having in combination anchoring bars disposable within the area of suclrrecesses, a spindle on which one end of each. of said bars is slidably mounted. and. resilientmeans for normallymaintaining the said bars in the undercut ends to. secure the leaves.

4. Apparatus for securing loose leaves of the kind having on one edge open recesses with undercut ends, having in combination anchoring bars disposable within-the area of such recesses, when a mass of leaves are coincidently assembled, aneyelet bushing at one end. of each bar, a spindle threaded through said bushings, a base member carrying said spindle, and a compression spring interposed between said bushings adapted-to maintain the bars within said undercut ends.

5. Apparatus for securing loose leaves of the kind having on one edge open recesses with undercut ends, having in combination anchoring-bars disposable within the area of such recesses when amass of leaves are coincidently assembled, an eyelet bushing at one endof each bar, a spindle threaded through said bushings, a base board, brackets secured to said base board, carrying. said spindle, and a coil spring between said bushings and threaded. on said spindle. tending to maintain the bars in anchoring position, the'said brackets beingdisposcd to limit the outward sliding movement of the said bars.

6, Apparatus-for securing loose leaves of the kind having on one edge open recesses with undercut ends, having in combination anchoring bars disposable within the areaof such recesses, when a mass of leaves are coincidently assembled, an eyelet bushing at one end of each bar, a spindle threaded through said bushings, a base member carrying said spindle, a COHIPI'GSSlOIl spring interposed be tween said bushings adapted to maintain the bars within said undercut ends, and finger plates provided on said bushings.

7. Apparatus for securing loose leaves of the kind having on one edge open recesses with undercut ends, having in combination anchoring bars disposable within the area of such recesses when a mass of leaves are coincidently assembled, an eyelet bushing at one end of each bar, a spindle threaded through said bushings, a base board, brackets secured to said base board, carrying said spindle, and acoil spring between said bushings and mounted on said spindle tending to maintain the bars in anchoring position, the said brackets being disposed to limit the outward sliding movement oi. the said bars, and finger plates provided on said bushings.

8. A cover for loose leaves, said cover having on one edge an open faced recess with under cut ends and reinforcements of frictional gripping material positioned in said undercut ends.

9. A cover for leaves, said cover having on one edge an open recess with undercut ends, a sheath bounding each of said undercut ends adapted to frictionally adhere to the anchoring bars of a securing mechanism for said leaves.

10. Apparatus for securing loose leaves of the kind having on one edge open recesses with undercut ends, having in combination anchoring bars disposable within the area of such recesses, when a mass of leaves are coincidently assembled, an eyelet bushing at one end of each bar, a spindle mounted in said bushings, a. base member carrying said spindle, a compression spring interposed between said bushings adapted to maintain the bars within said undercut ends, and a reinforced cover hoard, having a recess on one edge with undercut ends 01. each provided with a sheath of friction material to enhance the frictional grip on said bars.

11. Apparatus for securing loose leaves of the kind having on one edge open recesses with undercut ends, having in combination anchoring bars disposable within the area of such recesses when a mass of leaves are coincidently assembled, an eyelet bushing at one end of each bar, a spindle threaded through said bushings, a base board, brackets secured to said base board, carrying said spindle a coil spring between said bushings and mounted on said spindle tending to maintain the bars in anchoring position, the said brackets being disposed to limit the outward sliding movement of the said bars, and a reinforced cover board, having a recess on one edge with undercut ends each provided with a sheath of friction material to enhance the frictional grip on said bars.

12. Apparatus for securing loose leaves of the kind having on one edge open recesses with undercut ends consisting of anchoring bars disposed within the area of said recesses when a mass of leaves are coincidently assembled, a spindle on which said bars are slidably and pivotally mounted, a base board, brackets secured to said base board carrying said spindle, and resilient means for normally retaining said bars in said undercut ends to secure the leaves, the mass of the leaves and said bars being adapted to pivot bodily about said spindle on the leaves being displaced for reference purposes.

13. Apparatus for securing loose leaves of the kind having on one edge open-taced recesses with undercut ends, comprising in combination a pair of anchoring members disposable within the area of said recesses when a mass of said leaves are piled coinciclently, means for guiding said anchoring members for lateral movement within the recesses to lock or release the leaves, and means for automatically and simultaneously returning said anchoring members into said undercut ends to lock the mass of said leaves.

14:. In apparatus for securing loose leaves of the kind having one edge cut away to provide an open-faced recess with undercut ends, that part cut away bein substantially equal in width transversely to the sum of the widths of the parts remaining, the combination with anchoring bars disposed in the area of the recess; of supporting means on which one end of each of said. bars is movably mounted,

and resilient means for normally maintaining said bars in the undercut ends to secure the leaves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RICHARD F. POWER. 

